Method of applying hair building solids with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator

ABSTRACT

A method for applying and distributing hair fibers using a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator. After dispensing hair fibers onto the head and scalp, the applicator is guided over the surface of a thinning hair area in the direction of the hair growth. Specially designed bristles grab and position each hair and blend and distribute hair fibers evenly for a natural appearance. The applicator is further used to remove misplaced fibers and can be used to style hair after a holding mist has been applied.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to cosmetic treatments for hairloss, and more specifically, to a method of applying hair buildingsolids with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator.

BACKGROUND

Most men will experience thinning hair or hair loss by the time theyreach their mid-thirties and about half of women will suffer from hairthinning or loss, often after the age of 50. Genetic causes are commonlyto blame in male or female pattern baldness, also known as androgeneticalopecia. Genetics impact the size of the hair follicles and morespecifically their sensitivity to the presence of dihydrotestosterone,or DHT (a derivative of testosterone or androgen). The actions of DHTbinding at follicle receptor sites reduce the size of hair follicles,essentially suffocating hair growth most commonly on the crown of thehead. Fortunately, some follicles are resistant to the effects of DHT,and while those follicles are often located on the back and side of thehead, these are the follicles that are successfully transplanted in hairrestoration surgery.

Many treatments for hair loss in men and women focus on strengthening,regrowth or transplantation of hair via medical means (e.g., medicationor surgery). These include, but are not limited to, minoxidil,finasteride, dutasteride, topical ketocanazole, platelet rich plasmatherapy, low level laser therapy, and hair restoration surgery.Unfortunately, medical treatments to regrow or transplant hair can bequite costly, incur side effects, often require continuous treatment,and may result in a total loss of treatment gains if treatment isdiscontinued (e.g., with minoxidil or finasteride) or are of limited orquestionable effectiveness, particularly in cases where there issignificant hair loss. Therefore, concealment of hair loss throughcosmetic means has been the method of choice for many men and women withthinning hair. Often this approach involves the use of natural orsynthetic hair affixed or placed on top of the hair or scalp, includingfull hairpieces and hair extensions to conceal hair loss. Hairpieces andhair extensions, however, are not “set it and forget it” solutions. Bothtypes of products must be properly applied, and despite the possibledesire to want to integrate one's own hair, the use of a hairpiece oftenrequires shaving hair under the hairpiece, and possibly all around it aswell, to have it look as natural as possible. The initial applicationfor semi-permanent varieties of hairpieces often require a few hours oftime, and are applied using glue, tape, weaves, protein bonds, orbraids, although temporary hair extensions can be clipped in. Aprofessional stylist is often required to cut and color hair extensionsto match the user's hair. At-home care typically requires the use ofcertain shampoos and careful instructions on the use of heat, chemicals,brushing, blow drying, and sleeping, and extra time needs to be allottedby the user every day to ensure that hair extensions are styled properlyto blend seamlessly into their natural hair.

Hairpieces and hair extensions are fairly expensive, and these hair lossconcealment solutions may cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars toover $1,000, especially for custom “hair replacement systems.” The costto maintain a single hairpiece may exceed $100 or more per month, onaverage, and more than one piece is typically purchased at a time.Additionally, many hair extensions only last for about 2 months of dailywear. The options may be further limited for those who may want toconceal their hair loss during certain days or times, while goingwithout concealment during other period of time in a given week or day.

An alternative low-cost, and more recent cosmetic solution forconcealing hair loss involves applying hair building fibers to areaswhere the user has experienced hair loss, including those described inU.S. Publ. No. 2011/0195039 to Isaacs and U.S. Publ. No. 2013/0319449 toXavier et al. Traditionally, these hair building fibers are comprised ofparticles of natural hair, levant cotton, keratin, or other hair-likesubstances, dispensed through a container topped with a sifter tocontrol the flow of fibers, and shaken onto the hair and scalp. Thefibers are typically colored to match the user's hair. Most commonly,the user is instructed to “pat” the hair with one's hand after applyinghair building fibers in order to distribute them. The color-matchedfibers cling to the hair shaft and scalp resulting in the appearance ofthicker hair. The adherence of hair building fibers to the hair shaftand scalp is typically enabled by means of electrostatic charge or othermeans, including adhesives such as hair spray.

Many disadvantages exist with both the traditional method ofdistributing fibers as well as with prior art methods described in U.S.Publ. No 2009/0199860 to Kress et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,522 to Kress,PCT Application No. WO 2005/009624 to Kress et al., and U.S. Pat. No.D599,215 to Mulhauser et al. For example, if a fiber-user pats the areawith their hand to distribute the fibers, the fibers will not “line up”with the strands of natural hair, resulting in a dusted appearance. Useof traditional hairbrushes will often fail to distribute one's hair andthe hair fibers properly due to the imprecision of the wide distancebetween the bristles and the relative high stiffness of commonly usedboar bristle or nylon bristles on thinning and delicate hair. Moreover,if hairspray is applied, it is difficult and/or impossible tosuccessfully style hair after hair fibers have been applied due to thesesame qualities of traditional hairbrushes. Additionally, oftentimesmisplaced hair fibers cling to clothing, face, ears and neck, and thereare difficulties in removing these fibers.

Prior art methods of applying and distributing hair fibers involve theuse of air pumped through bulbs and valves to take up and expel hairbuilding fibers onto targeted areas of the scalp. However, users havereported difficulties with these pumps, including the manual forcenecessary to expel the fibers onto the hair, displacing previousapplications of fiber with subsequent puffs of hair, a “dusted”appearance, potential mismatches between these applicators and certainfiber dispenser brands, uneven distribution of fibers, clogging ofapplicator valves, and a failure to take up and expel fibers when thefiber container is less than half full.

Therefore, as appreciated by the present inventor(s), a need exists fora low-cost, yet effective method of applying hair building solids thataddresses the deficiencies found in prior art methods of concealing hairloss through the application of hair building solids.

SUMMARY

A method for treating thinning areas of hair with hair building solidsis provided. The method includes the steps of suspending a dispensercontaining hair building solids above an area of thinning hair,dispensing the hair building solids such that the hair building solidsare applied to the hair and scalp, and guiding a low rigidity, highdensity bristle-based applicator over the applied area of hair to evenlydistribute and blend the hair building solids into the hair.

A second method for treating areas of thinning hair is also provided.The method includes suspending a dispenser containing hair buildingsolids above an area of thinning hair and applying the hair buildingsolids to the hair and scalp, and guiding a low rigidity, high densitybristle-based applicator over the applied area of hair to evenlydistribute and blend the hair building solids into the hair. Thebristle-based applicator may include a soft-bristled hairbrush withbristles comprised of natural hair fibers.

A third method for concealing areas of thinning hair is furtherprovided. The method includes styling the hair with a stiff-bristledtraditional hairbrush, suspending a dispenser containing hair buildingsolids above an area of thinning hair and applying the hair fibers tothe hair and scalp, wherein the hair building solids adhere to fibers ofthe hair, and brushing the surface of the treated hair with a lowrigidity, high density bristle-based applicator. The bristle-basedapplicator may include a soft-bristled hairbrush comprising naturalbristles consisting of guard hair from Mongolian Cashmere Goats.

Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages ofthe disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in theart upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description, and be protected by theaccompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood by referring to thefollowing figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily toscale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles ofthe disclosure. In the figures, like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1A is a top view of an example a low rigidity, high densitybristle-based applicator used to apply hair building solids to thinningareas of hair in accordance with the teachings of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 1B is a lateral view of the bristle-based applicator illustrated inFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a front perspective view of the bristle-based applicatorillustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for applying hair buildingsolids to an area of thinning hair in accordance with the teachings ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3A illustrates a user styling an area of thinning hair with atraditional stiff-bristled hairbrush.

FIG. 3B illustrates a user's hair after an area of thinning hair isstyled with a stiff-bristled hairbrush.

FIG. 3C is a first illustration of hair building solids being applied toa user's hair and scalp.

FIG. 3D is a second illustration of hair building solids being appliedto a user's hair and scalp.

FIG. 3E is a first illustration of a user using a low rigidity, highdensity bristle-based applicator to blend and distribute hair buildingsolids into the user's hair.

FIG. 3F is a second illustration of a user using a low rigidity, highdensity bristle-based applicator to blend and distribute hair buildingsolids into the user's hair.

FIG. 3G illustrates a user removing unwanted hair building solids fromtheir body using a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator.

FIG. H illustrates a user application of a hair holding agent on an areaof treated hair.

FIG. 3I illustrates a user styling their hair using a low rigidity, highdensity bristle-based applicator after the hair holding agent has beenapplied to hair.

FIG. 3J illustrates a user's hair after the treatment is complete.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method for applying and distributing hair fibers using a low rigidity,high density bristle-based applicator is presently disclosed. Afterdispensing hair building solids or fibers onto the head and scalp of theuser, the applicator is guided over the surface of a thinning hair areain the direction of the hair growth. Specially designed bristles graband position each hair and blend and distribute hair fibers evenly intothe hair for a natural-looking appearance. The applicator is furtherused to remove misplaced fibers and can be used to style hair after aholding mist has been applied.

FIGS. 1-3J illustrate examples of various implementations of a methodfor applying hair building solids or fibers onto a subject's hair with alow rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator. As described indetail below, the method generally includes applying the hair buildingfibers to a thinning area of hair on the subject, and repositioning thethinning hair and hair building fibers with a low rigidity, high densitybristle-based applicator.

FIG. 1A illustrates a top view of a low rigidity, high densitybristle-based applicator 100. As is understood by the present inventor,various problems exist when hair building fibers are applied using priorart techniques and applicators. Therefore, a low rigidity, high densitybristle-based applicator is employed to apply hair building fibers,thereby addressing the problems and drawbacks associated with otherapplicators or the use of traditional “stiff-bristled” hairbrushes inconnection with present cosmetic treatments for hair loss. For purposesof the present disclosure, a “stiff-bristled” hairbush is defined as ahairbush with bristles having a flexural rigidity above 11 mN·mm² and/ora bending modulus above 6 N/tex. For purposes of the present disclosure,a “soft-bristled” hairbush is defined as a hairbush with bristles havinga flexural rigidity below 10 mN·mm² and/or a bending modulus below 5N/tex.

Indeed, as appreciated by the present inventor, significant difficultiesresult from using traditional hairbrushes to apply cosmetic hairbuilding fibers. For example, with a traditional hairbrush, the scalp isscraped by the bristles, which pull the fibers away from the scalp.Moreover, using a traditional hairbrush, it can be very difficult, ifnot impossible, to style hair after hairspray is applied to “hold” thehair fibers onto the hair. However, these problems are avoided with theuse of a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator, asdescribed herein.

As shown, the applicator 100 may include a soft-bristled hairbrushhaving bristles comprised of at least 25% animal hair fibers. As such,the bristles of the applicator 100 are perceivably more flexible thanthey would otherwise be with pure synthetic bristles, such as those usedin stiff-bristled traditional hairbrushes. In some implementations, thebristles of the applicator 100 may comprise 68% synthetic bristle fibersmade of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethyleneterephthalate polyester (PETP), and 32% natural hair fibers made of, forexample, guard hair from Mongolian Cashmere Goats. However, in otherimplementations, other proportions of synthetic bristle fibers tonatural hair fibers may be used, depending upon the circumstances. Thestiffness of the bristles is operationally defined by their bendingmodulus (based on linear density and microscopy) and flexural rigidity.One way of determining whether the applicator has sufficiently lowflexural rigidity is whether the softness of the applicator would bemedically-appropriate for use on infants and/or toddlers, who naturallyhave thin, delicate hair.

There are many advantages to using low rigidity, high densitybristle-based applicators over traditional hairbrushes for applying hairbuilding fibers. For instance, the use of a low rigidity, high densitybristle-based applicator can effectively blend and distribute hairbuilding fibers throughout the area of thinning hair, unlike traditionalbrushes, which scrape against the scalp and pull the fibers from thehair shaft. Further, the bristle density in traditional hairbrushes maybe fairly sparse and the bristles spaced too far apart to have theprecision necessary to cling to and align the hair fibers with thesubject's natural hair. However, with low rigidity, high densitybristle-based applicators, the bristle density is high and the bristlesare spaced closer together, resulting in greater precision and accuracy,which in turn enables the hair building fibers to be evenly distributedover a thinning area of hair.

Turning now to FIGS. 1B and 1C, the applicator 100 may include a base102 and bristles 104. The applicator base 102 may include a handle 112and bristle head 109, on which the bristles 104 are attached orimplanted in bundles known as tufts 120, within a patterned series ofreceptacles 106. As shown in FIG. 1A, the receptacles 106 and, thus, thebristle 104 may be arranged in an oval-shaped concentric or othergeometric pattern.

In some implementations, the base 102 may be constructed to an overalllength 103 of approximately 18.0 centimeters (“cm”), a handle length of13 cm, and handle width of approximately 2.5 cm. The bristle head 109may be constructed to a length 107 of approximately 5.0 cm and a widthof 109 of approximately 4.7 cm, with the bristles 104, together with thebristle base 102 thickness, extending to a height 115 of approximately 3cm. In some examples, bristle head 109 and the handle 112 may be made ofBeechwood or any other suitable material. In some implementations, thebristle head 109 may include a bristle count of 400 bristles perreceptacle 106, a bristle length 118 of approximately 2.2 cm, a radiusof each bristle tuft 120 of approximately 2.8 millimeters (“mm”), and anaverage distance between each receptacle 106 of approximately 3 mm. Byway of example only, the bristles 104 may include the followingdimensions and mechanical properties:

Bending Bristle Diameter Modulus Flexural rigidity polyester (i.e.,synthetic) 71.9 μm 3.45 N/tex 9.26 mN · mm² bristle fiber animal (i.e.,natural) 73.5 μm 4.94 N/tex 9.24 mN · mm² bristle fiberHowever, the bristles 104 may be constructed to any suitable dimensionsand mechanical properties.

The advantages of using a low rigidity, high density bristle-basedapplicator, as disclosed herein, include: efficiently blending anddistributing hair fibers through thinning hair, evenly positioning thehair over thinning areas, thereby improving hair fiber coverage toconceal thinning areas, shortening fiber application time and productuse by reducing additional applications due to more efficient fiberdistribution, reducing fiber clumping, and a more natural, less “dusted”appearance of hair. These benefits, in turn, reduce fiber shedding byefficiently filling gaps between hairs with hair fibers and correctover-applications in specific areas due to an uneven distribution afterinitial application.

Other advantages accrue through employment of the applicator 100disclosed herein. Due to the low stiffness or rigidity of the bristles,the applicator 100 may be used to style hair after using hair spraywithout worrying that a substantial amount of hair fibers will bedisplaced. The high density of the bristles of applicator 100 alsoallows for grabbing and “taming” of stray hairs after applying hairspray. Moreover, use of the applicator allows for removal of stray hairfibers from unwanted areas, such as face, ears and neck, while minimalfibers cling to the brush 100 after use.

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a method 200 for applying hairbuilding fibers, such as natural fibers, with a low rigidity, highdensity bristle-based applicator. The method starts in step 210, bystyling and/or brushing the thinning hair with a traditionalstiff-bristled hairbrush, such as stiff-bristled brush 305 illustratedin FIG. 3A. Once styled, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, in step 220, a hairfiber dispenser 310 containing hair building fibers 312, such as, forexample only, Caboki® natural hair fibers manufactured by Caboki LLC,Cranbury, N.J. 08512 USA, may be held or otherwise suspended above athinning area of hair and hair fibers 312 may be applied to the thinningarea of hair until the scalp is barely visible, as illustrated in FIGS.3C and 3D. Once applied, the hair building fibers 312 adhere to thethinning strands of air, resulting in the appearance of thicker, fullerhair.

In step 230, the low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator 100is rested upon the treated region of the hair with minimal pressure andthen guided over the surface of the thinning hair, as is illustrated inFIGS. 3E and 3F. In step 240, the user determines if more hair buildingfibers 312 are need. If more hair fibers are needed, the method steps210-240 are repeated until the user reaches a desired appearance of hairthickness. Once the user reaches a desired appearance of hair thickness,the method 200 advances to step 250.

In a step 250, the applicator 100 or similar applicator may be used toremove unwanted hair fibers from the face, neck or other unwanted areasof the body, such shown in FIG. 3G. In step 260, as shown in FIG. 3H,hair spray or hair mist 230 may be applied to the hair and hair buildingfibers to settle or affix the fibers to the treated hair.

After applying hair mist to the treated area, in step 270, the user'shair may be styled with the applicator 100 or other means, asillustrated in FIG. 3I. After styling, the user's head will have ahealthy and full cosmetic appeal, as shown in FIG. 3J. Unlikehairbrushes currently known in the art, low rigidity, high densitybristle-based applicators, such as applicator 100, may be used forafter-mist styling of thinning hair.

While the applicator 100 described herein includes an elongated handleand a circular or oval shaped bristle head. In other implementations,the applicator 100 may include or not include a handle and beconstructed to any suitable shape and dimensions.

In general, terms such as “coupled to,” and “configured for couplingto,” and “secured to,” and “configured for securing to” and “incommunication with” (for example, a first component is “coupled to” or“is configured for coupling to” or is “configured for securing to” or is“in communication with” a second component) are used herein to indicatea structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical,magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two ormore components or elements. As such, the fact that one component issaid to be in communication with a second component is not intended toexclude the possibility that additional components may be presentbetween, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first andsecond components.

Although the previous description illustrates particular examples ofvarious implementations, the present disclosure is not limited to theforegoing illustrative examples. A person skilled in the art is awarethat the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents can be applied in various further implementations andmodifications. In particular, a combination of the various features ofthe described implementations is possible, as far as these features arenot in contradiction with each other. Accordingly, the foregoingdescription of implementations has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description. Modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating hair, comprising: suspending a dispenser containing hair building solids above an area of thinning hair; dispensing the hair building solids such that the hair building solids are applied to the hair and scalp; and guiding a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator over the surface of the applied area of hair to evenly distribute and blend the hair building solids into the hair.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising styling the hair with a stiff-bristled hairbrush prior to suspending the dispenser above the area of thinning hair.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether more hair building solids are needed to treat the area of thinning hair.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising applying more hair building solids to the area of thinning hair to thicken the hair's appearance.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator to remove unwanted hair fibers from parts of the body once the hair building solids have been applied to the hair.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising spraying the treated hair with a holding agent after the hair building solids have been applied to the hair and styling the hair with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator is a soft-bristled hairbrush.
 8. A method of treating hair, comprising: suspending a dispenser containing hair building solids above an area of thinning hair and applying the hair building solids to the hair; and guiding a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator over the applied area of hair to evenly distribute and blend the hair building solids into the hair, wherein the applicator comprises bristles made of natural fibers.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the bristles of the applicator comprise a combination of synthetic fibers and natural hair fibers.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the bristles comprise at least 25% natural hair fibers.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the natural fibers include guard hair from Mongolian Cashmere Goats.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the bristles of the applicator comprise at least one of the following characteristics: a count of bristles per bristle receptacle of approximately 400, a bristle length of approximately 2.2 cm, a bristle tuft diameter of approximately 2.8 mm, an average distance between two receptacles of bristles of approximately 3.0 mm, a diameter of the synthetic fibers of approximately 71.9 μm, a diameter of the natural hair fibers of approximately 73.5 μm, a bending modulus of the synthetic fibers of approximately 3.45 N/tex, a bending modulus of the natural hair fibers of approximately is 4.94 N/tex, a flexural rigidity of the synthetic fibers of approximately 9.26 mN·mm², and a flexural rigidity of the natural hair fibers of approximately 9.24 mN·mm².
 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising styling the hair with a traditional hairbrush prior to suspending the dispenser above the area of thinning hair.
 14. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining whether more hair building solids are needed to treat the area of thinning hair.
 15. The method of claim 8, further comprising using the low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator to remove unwanted hair fibers from parts of the body once the hair building solids have been applied to the hair.
 16. A method of treating hair, comprising: styling the hair with a traditional hairbrush; suspending a dispenser containing hair building solids above an area of thinning hair and applying the hair fibers to the hair, wherein the hair building solids adhere to the hair; and brushing the treated hair with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator, wherein the applicator includes a soft-bristled hairbrush having bristles comprising natural hair fibers made of guard hair from Mongolian Cashmere Goats.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising using the low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator to remove unwanted hair fibers from parts of the body once the hair building solids have been applied to the hair.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising spraying the treated hair with a holding agent after the hair building solids have been applied to the hair and styling the hair with a low rigidity, high density bristle-based applicator.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the bristles of the applicator comprise a combination of synthetic fibers and natural hair fibers.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the bristles of the applicator comprise at least one of the following characteristics: a count of bristles per bristle receptacle of approximately 400, a bristle length of approximately 2.2 cm, a bristle tuft diameter of approximately 2.8 mm, an average distance between two receptacles of bristles of approximately 3.0 mm, a diameter of the synthetic fibers of approximately 71.9 μm, a diameter of the natural hair fibers of approximately 73.5 μm, a bending modulus of the synthetic fibers of approximately 3.45 N/tex, a bending modulus of the natural hair fibers of approximately is 4.94 N/tex, a flexural rigidity of the synthetic fibers of approximately 9.26 mN·mm², and a flexural rigidity of the natural hair fibers of approximately 9.24 mN·mm². 